My Neighbourhood Church December 6, 2008
Posted by Ken Newton in : Life in Panama , trackbackI realized today that I have begun to redefine efficiency and the measure by which things are accomplished. I consider today’s achievements to have been most successful. Over the course of 6 hours, we moved mountains.
The first task of the day was to pick up our passports from the immigration office in David. We had left our passports with the department yesterday as a requirement for them to approve a new multi-entry visa, and had been told to come by at 10:00 a.m. today to get them. We arrived on time, only to find out that the passports were not ready. Somehow we managed to convey our disappointment, at which time an officer produced our passports and stamped a page with the multi-entry visa stamp. The same person yesterday could have simply stamped our passport while we stood at the wicket. Instead, we had to come back the day following for them to stamp our passport as we stood at the wicket. But, we got our visas and we did it all by ourselves!
Feeling luck was on our side, we set out to our bank to try (once again) to obtain a PIN. We have an account, a debit card with the same bank, but no PIN. We have been working on this issue for the last 13 days. Today was our day. Under tight security and in hushed tones, out of a massive file bearing our names, we were presented with a secret document containing our PIN. It felt like we had won the lottery!
With everything suggesting nothing could go wrong today, we located the closest ATM and with shaking hands, we inserted our debit card, and while looking nervously over our shoulder, entered our new PIN. It worked - we actually withdrew some cash. We were delirious with the second success of the day!
The point is this. If I were to have expectations of achievement based on my standards and the culture within which I have spent most of my life, I would be terribly disappointed with things as they are unfolding each day here in Panama. And so that same shift must occur for how I evaluate the church institution here and its form and objectives as so different from what I have embraced every Sunday of every year of my life. And, I must say, thank God for this new season of my life where I can shake loose of the 4-part do-church thingy week in and week out, and begin to experience care and fellowship in a simpler way. And not with standard indices of attendance and offerings and baptisms as yielding the competitive edge. Not that any measure is defective; and so I say these things not as critical. But care and community in true form, selflessly, and without any expectation greater than the fact that God uses us mostly within pure relationships, and not some process guise.
I think I drew closer to God today. Not for getting my multi-entry visa, and not for being able to out-think an ATM, but for another reason. As Lynda and I drove up to our house, we noticed that our fence had been repaired. I had mentioned in a previous article that a cow had taken down about 50 feet of our fence. My plan was to repair it, but I first had to learn how to do it. Fences are very different here, and are made from the land, not from materials purchased from Lowes or Home Hardware. But someone beat me to it. We don’t know who. It has to be a neighbor somewhere down the road. Most likely from one of the homes that has no electricity or running water. Not that those mean anything for repairing a fence. But what roars is that someone who has very little, had so much to give with no expectation of anything in return.
My little neighbourhood is a church…..
Comments»
You sound so full of life. And the fact that Lynda is singing again! What a true “gift” from God! It is amazing for me “hear” you as you describe your daily adventures. You are evolving my friend…..into what God had destined for you from the time you were a twinkling in His eye.
When you reflect back over your life, it should be amazing as to the paths you have embarked upon, the trails and tribulations you have endured, the joys, the sorrows, the laughter, the tears, all of the things God has allowed you to experience, all the things He has brought you through, only to bring you to Panama with the love of your life. He has been preparing you for such a long time sweetie.
In reading your blogs, I hear a very educated “child” telling the world about all the new things he is seeing, hearing, learning and experiencing. It is absolutely refreshing and ALIVE!!
I have to say I miss you and Lynda so much. I miss your quirky sense of humor and I miss Lynda’s gentle, soft, loving voice. I miss the encouraging words and the support in the difficult times. It is truly different when you can’t just pick up and drive 15 minutes to get a warm hug (yes, you have learned to do that you know).
I guess I will have to be patient until Woody and I can get to Panama and spend some QUALITY time with you guys. In the meantime, keep smiling because I know you are, keep living life to its’ fullest, and keep soaking up all the blessings God has for the two of you. His hand is upon you Ken and Lynda Newton! I love you and miss you much. Take care and we’ll talk soon.